What's the general consensus on the "Classics" models?

[epj]

They're pretty, but to my mind it's like buying a '63 Vette with '01 smog equipment.

I’ve owned several mid year vettes. All ran really well, but are absolutely no match for the current offerings. A ‘63 split window fuelie had 360 gross horsepower. Maybe. By 2001 the Vettes had more than that in net horsepower. The ‘63 SW still has the cool factor going for it.

 

[lebomm]

My only new one is a 22-4 that I bought because it was the only 4" blued, fixed sight .45 ACP I could find that wasn't a chopper. I replaced the laminated stocks immediately with a pair of walnut magnas and a Tyler, and I now like the way it feels both in handling and in shooting. I don't care much for the modern bluing, the IL, or the fact that it shoots a couple inches low @ 25 yds, but I've not done anything about any of them yet. The Classics line models in general don't have much appeal for me with the CCH finish (never before a factory offering AFAIK), the IL, what I take to be precision-cast frames (MIM, perhaps?), and the disappearance of the square-butt configuration (K/L RB being totally out of place on an N frame, IMNSHO).
They are, however, all still Smith & Wessons, and all seem to be technologically worthy of the name, if perhaps not aesthetically. Aah, maybe I'm just descending faster into curmudgeoncy than I would like.

Good shooting all,
Larry

 

[epj]

They're pretty, but to my mind it's like buying a '63 Vette with '01 smog equipment.

I’ve owned several mid year vettes. All ran really well, but are absolutely no match for the current offerings. A ‘63 split window fuelie had 360 gross horsepower. Maybe. By 2001 the Vettes had more than that in net horsepower. The ‘63 SW still has the cool factor going for it.

 

[sw282]

My take on the new "classic" series:

1. Generally, they are attractive firearms that only generally conform to the REAL classics made so many years ago. They are nowhere near the originals in desirability or collectibility, and yet many are put on the market with prices that actually exceed nice-condition originals. I think the whole series is a tacit acknowledgment by S&W that the public yearns for "the good old days" of great firearms, manufacturing skill and care.

2. Barrel configurations, cylinder release latches, finishes, sights, working components, stocks and other details often vary noticeably from the originals.

3. As for the lock on the sides of many, NO COMMENT.

4. So far, I've only seen fit to purchase one of the new classic series, and that was this 40-1, shipped on or about Nov. 1, 2007. It varies from the originals in the contour of the barrel, the quality of the plating, the cylinder release latch, the stocks, the markings, the style of the cylinder stop, and the fact that it does not have a grip safety lockout pin available in a hole under the stocks. I DO like the fact that it does have the grip safety, and if you will look above the cylinder release latch, you will find NO LOCK. Again, NO COMMENT.

John

P.S. What's not to like about a GTO?

Fall 1965 l got a brand NEW 1966 Rompen Stompen G T O.

MSRP $3291.. 389 cid, 335hp 4bbl Carter AFB.. 4SP Muncie 3:55 rear

Now that 66Goat wont keep up with a modern Muscle Car..

But my 1965 S&W Model 14-1 will hold its own against ANY modern S&W Classic!!

 

[Mr.Harry]

Fall 1965 l got a brand NEW 1966 Rompen Stompen G T O.

MSRP $3291.. 389 cid, 335hp 4bbl Carter AFB.. 4SP Muncie 3:55 rear

Now that 66Goat wont keep up with a modern Muscle Car..

But my 1965 S&W Model 14-1 will hold its own against ANY modern S&W Classic!!

Man, that’s some kind of car right there. I mean, it really is. Does Pontiac even make cars anymore? Not to mention ones like that. Anyway, 66 Caddy will give a pretty sweet ride. And you can’t shake a stick at the new ones either. But sure, they don’t make ‘em like they used to.

 

[rogerwnuss]

Damn, Doc.......I know where I'm gonna go hang out next vacation.....

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My M27 Classic shoots just fine.

I carried it cross country a couple of years ago concealed under a light jacket. It was cumbersome but I was happy to have it along!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Does my 1998 Nissan Frontier qualify as classic yet? Just checking in light of these gorgeous cars.....

 

[HamHands]

That makes sense. Here in Georgia we have had more guns than people for a century now. That results in lots of old guns on the market. In lots of other states people just didn't have guns for the most part. When I was a kid in New York, a man who owned a gun was rare. The only guns I ever saw were owned by LE. Right now we have slightly over 10 million people in Georgia. I would be willing to bet that we have over 30 million guns.

That is why NY is practically a Police State and why it's politicians are out of control with God Like Complex's... Not every New Yorker I know is an *******... But every ******* I know is from NYC...

 

[daddy bear]

The last 1917 that I sold had a mid grade finish and good mechanicals brought $300, THIRTY FIVE YEARS AGO!

Nice old Smiths bring a lot of money around here, except sometimes at my favorite pawn shop.

Jack

 

[one eye joe]

I just picked this 'Dirty Harry' special up today. Classic model 57 (I know it's not a .44, but I prefer the .41)

Fit and finish is perfect. I couldn't be happier with this gun (and I've owned plenty of the old ones).

WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE. YOU KNOW THAT ITS NOT A .44 MAGNUM. SO WHY ARE YOU CALLING IT A "DIRTY HARRY" SPECIAL ? ? ?

YOU MAY PREFER THE .41---BUT DIRTY HARRY DID NOT, AND HIS ICONIC WEAPON WAS A VITAL PART OF HIS CHARACTER ! ! !

 

[one eye joe]

I have a preference for guns as old as me but maybe I'm just plain wrong about these new "classics." How do they rate - shooting, fit, and finish wise?

FROM READING ALL OF THE REPLIES THAT WERE POSTED--IT APPEARS THAT THE CLASSICS COMPARE VERY FAVORABLY ALONG THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU QUESTIONED--SHOOTING, FIT, AND FINISH.....

I HAVE A PROBLEM ACCEPTING A GUN AS A "CLASSIC" WHEN AN IL IS STARING ME IN THE FACE. THAT'S JUST THE OPINION OF ONE 75 YEAR OLD GEEZER, WHO HAS BEEN SHOOTING FOR 60 YEARS.....

TO PUT IT IN AUTOMOTIVE TERMS---I AM THE OWNER OF A FULLY RESTORED, "SUNFIRE YELLOW", 1967 CORVETTE ROADSTER, WHICH COULD RIGHTFULLY BE REFERRED TO AS, "A CLASSIC". A NEW 2018 CORVETTE COULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND MY CAR, AS FAR AS PERFORMANCE, AND IS MORE THAN ITS EQUAL IN FIT AND FINISH, BUT IT DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED A CLASSIC.....

 

[white cloud]

We are getting some really nice car photos in this thread. Please keep it up.

I started buying S&Ws during the Bangor Punta days. I can bore you with some stories of really bad revolvers I owned back then. I regret selling everyone of them. My wife's one year old M-67 is very nice gun. I don't care for the "hole" or the rubber stocks much. Is it as elegant as an older M-15? Certainly not.

 

[oysterer]

no..

I never shot one but I would think they go boom as intended.

Handled some in the store and they feel a little less smooth and less attention to detail but quite ok. But as long as there is a Hilary lock on it I won't buy one period. That lock looks very ugly and may jam (as it is known to have done although very rarely).

There are enough old and beautiful guns out there for me to search and discover and that's fine for me.

 

[Mr.Harry]

FROM READING ALL OF THE REPLIES THAT WERE POSTED--IT APPEARS THAT THE CLASSICS COMPARE VERY FAVORABLY ALONG THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU QUESTIONED--SHOOTING, FIT, AND FINISH.....

I HAVE A PROBLEM ACCEPTING A GUN AS A "CLASSIC" WHEN AN IL IS STARING ME IN THE FACE. THAT'S JUST THE OPINION OF ONE 75 YEAR OLD GEEZER, WHO HAS BEEN SHOOTING FOR 60 YEARS.....

TO PUT IT IN AUTOMOTIVE TERMS---I AM THE OWNER OF A FULLY RESTORED, "SUNFIRE YELLOW", 1967 CORVETTE ROADSTER, WHICH COULD RIGHTFULLY BE REFERRED TO AS, "A CLASSIC". A NEW 2018 CORVETTE COULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND MY CAR, AS FAR AS PERFORMANCE, AND IS MORE THAN ITS EQUAL IN FIT AND FINISH, BUT IT DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED A CLASSIC.....

I can swallow this. Well said. Nice car by the way.

 

[HamHands]

FROM READING ALL OF THE REPLIES THAT WERE POSTED--IT APPEARS THAT THE CLASSICS COMPARE VERY FAVORABLY ALONG THE PARAMETERS THAT YOU QUESTIONED--SHOOTING, FIT, AND FINISH.....

I HAVE A PROBLEM ACCEPTING A GUN AS A "CLASSIC" WHEN AN IL IS STARING ME IN THE FACE. THAT'S JUST THE OPINION OF ONE 75 YEAR OLD GEEZER, WHO HAS BEEN SHOOTING FOR 60 YEARS.....

TO PUT IT IN AUTOMOTIVE TERMS---I AM THE OWNER OF A FULLY RESTORED, "SUNFIRE YELLOW", 1967 CORVETTE ROADSTER, WHICH COULD RIGHTFULLY BE REFERRED TO AS, "A CLASSIC". A NEW 2018 CORVETTE COULD RUN CIRCLES AROUND MY CAR, AS FAR AS PERFORMANCE, AND IS MORE THAN ITS EQUAL IN FIT AND FINISH, BUT IT DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED A CLASSIC.....

That is one beautiful Vette! And I couldn't stand the Hillary Hole either. So I fixed a 625 that I really liked. And I agree with you analogy on the fit n' finish. This 625's fit is almost equal to a pair of vintage 70's M-36's I got thru an estate sale a year ago. The finish is better than I was told it would be. Now I've take the IL out I'd dare say it's 95% as good looking as the M36's. That's whats great today, we don't have to look at that ugly Hil-Hole with great machined plugs that match the factory finish. Here she is.

 

[S.B.]

I only own one a model 629-4 pre lock with a 6&1/2" inch barrel that I've put a red dot on for deer hunting and have never had a problem with.
Steve

 

[chiefdave]

The two groups that I have had to deal with in my life that I distrust the most are lawyers and politicians. That being said any firearm that they dictated any part of the design parameters would be of no interest to me.

 

[dogdoc]

All you people who think the 70s ,80s and even the 90s were the Mecca for quality are sadly mistaken. I was buying in those eras and I can tell you they were not. I have many examples from those times and I can find defects on nearly all. These are mass produced tools that sell for several hundred dollars. What do you expect. I really think some of the latest are the best, notwithstanding collectors. I just got a 57 classic that is better fitted than my 70s and 80s gun. I think for a shooter, the new ones are great. Side plates fit better,lock up tight,tolerance tighter,endurance greater. My 57 is a tack driver. I do hate the lock but after nearly 20years I am over it. I see a 4 inch 29 classic in my future. I will shoot the hell out of it with Keith loads and if I have a problem I will send it to smith and they will fix it free of charge. Try that with my 80s vintage 44 special that had a ridiculous barrel cylinder gap. I had to fix that on my own dime. Barrels were crooked then too. I fixed those my self with a barrel wrench.
Most of these problems we notice are cosmetic and do not affect shooting. I do agree the older ones retain value better because of collector status but they are really no better quality wise unless you go way back, prewar or maybe 1950s era.

 

[BigBill]

I have a few newer n frame classics there all nice revolvers. I’d buy more for sure.

It’s said the new s&w m29-10 is the best quality one ever made.